An explosion shook Otedola Bridge in Lagos last night, triggering a large fire. The incident occurred at 8:18 p.m. when a tanker carrying 50,000 liters of petroleum products overturned while navigating a turn at the bridge.
At the time of reporting, there were no confirmed casualties. Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed that the agency had activated an emergency response plan to address both the overturned tanker and the ensuing fire.
Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, stated that the fire had spread to nearby structures, including a church, a bungalow, and four vehicles.
Motorists in the area, gripped by panic, scrambled to escape, with many making quick U-turns or abandoning their vehicles to avoid becoming trapped in the blaze, recalling a similar incident in 2018 that claimed at least 12 lives and destroyed 54 vehicles.
Firefighters and emergency responders were still working late into the night to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further. Responders from LASEMA, the State Fire Service, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were all present at the scene.
Adeseye confirmed that while firefighting efforts were ongoing, no casualties had been reported. Further updates were expected. Meanwhile, LASEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Boss Okunbo, briefly commented, “It appears to be some sort of explosion. We are awaiting a preliminary report. LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team is on the ground.”
